Gillian was glad to be asked to sit with Fly in the meantime.  It was a sufficient reason for not repairing to the garden, and she hoped that Kalliope was unaware of her return, little knowing of the replies by which Fergus repaid Alexis for his assistance in mineral hunting.  She had no desire to transgress Miss Mohun’s desire that no further intercourse should take place till she herself had spoken with Kalliope.

She found little Phyllis Devereux a great deal taller and thinner than the droll childish being who had been so amusing two years before at Silverfold, but eagerly throwing herself into her arms with the same affectionate delight.  All the table was spread with pretty books and outlined illuminations waiting to be painted, and some really beautiful illustrated Sunday books; but as Gillian touched the first, Fly cried out, ’Oh, don’t!  I am so tired of all those things!  And this is such a stupid window.  I thought at least I should see the people going to church, and this looks at nothing but the old sea and a tiresome garden.’

‘That is thought a special advantage,’ said Gillian, smiling.

‘Then I wish some one had it who liked it!’

‘You would not be so near us.’

’No, and that is nice, and very nice for Mysie.  How are all the dear beasts at Silverfold—–­Begum, and all?’

’I am afraid I do not know more about them than Mysie does.  Aunt Jane heard this morning that she must go down there to-morrow to meet the health-man and see what he says; but she won’t take any of us because of the diphtheria and the scarlet fever being about.’

’Oh dear, how horrid those catching things are!  I’ve not seen Ivinghoe all this winter!  Ah! but they are good sometimes!  If it had not been for the measles, I should never have had that most delicious time at Silverfold, nor known Mysie.  Now, please tell me all about where you have been, and what you have been doing.’

Fly knew some of the younger party that Gillian had met at Rowthorpe; but she was more interested in the revels at Vale Leston, and required a precise description of the theatricals, or still better, of the rehearsals.  Never was there a more appreciative audience, of how it all began from Kit Harewood, the young sailor, having sent home a lion’s skin from Africa, which had already served for tableaux of Androcles and of Una—–­how the boy element had insisted on fun, and the child element on fairies, and how Mrs. William Harewood had suggested Midsummer Night’s Dream as the only combination of the three essentials, lion, fun, and fairy, and pronounced that education had progressed far enough for the representation to be ’understanded of the people,’ at least by the 6th and 7th standards.  On the whole, however, comprehension seemed to have been bounded by intense admiration of the little girl fairies, whom the old women appeared to have taken for angels, for one had declared that to hear little Miss Cherry and Miss Katie singing their hymns like the angels they was, was just like Heaven.  She must have had an odd notion of ’Spotted snakes with double tongues.’  Moreover, effect was added to the said hymns by Uncle Lance behind the scenes.